Benny Ray Page

Benny Ray Page, a sixty-year resident of Grand Prairie, passed into eternal life on Monday, July 25, 2022, in Arlington, Texas. He was a loving husband, adoring father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and a friend to all.

Benny was born on May 3, 1938, in Overton, Texas to Benjamin Franklin Page and Vada Ray Fisher Page. He graduated from Centralia Township High School, Centralia, Illinois in 1957 where he excelled in sports and was named to the football hall of fame. Benny attended Centralia Junior College for one year and was a member of the Blue Devils Basketball team. In November 1958, Benny was drafted and served in the Army until November 1960. He was stationed at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri, Fort Gordon, Georgia and Ludwigsburg, Germany between the Korean and Vietnam Wars. Benny was ranked a SP4 and was ‘lineman’ in communications.

Upon Benny’s honorable discharge, he returned to his hometown, Centralia, Illinois. In 1958, prior to Benny’s military service, he met and started dating another Texan, Glenda Jackson, who also attended the same high school. They fell in love and were married May 26, 1961, at First Baptist Church, Centralia. Benny and Glenda moved from Centralia to Odessa, Texas in June 1962 where Benny worked a few weeks for his uncle. Benny and Glenda moved to Grand Prairie in the summer of 1962 and Benny worked as a painter/tape-bed man for Bill Hines, Wendell Garrett Paint Company and had been self-employed for years when he retired in 2003.

Westridge Baptist Church was Benny’s home church for over 50 years. He served as a Deacon, Sunday School Superintendent, Youth Department teacher, and was very active in his church, serving on various committees. Benny was honored at Westridge Fellowship July 19, 2015, and named Deacon Emeritus for his many years of dedicated ministry work. Benny’s love of sportsmanship and competition led him throughout his life in his spare time to touch many young lives with coaching, mentoring, and developing athletic and life skills.

Benny is survived by his loving wife, Glenda Page; son and wife, Drs. Ray and Sheila Page of Aledo; daughter and husband, Gay and John Szurek of Arlington ; 8 grandchildren – Matt (Maddy) Szurek of Dallas; Julia (David) Verwers of Aurora, Colorado; Melanie Page of Aledo; Grant (Kaleigh) Szurek of Dallas; Stephanie Page of Denver, Colorado; Everett Szurek of Fort Worth; Jackson (Judy) Page of Palo Pinto; and Daniel Page of Aledo; 2 great-granddaughters – Vivian Verwers and Miriam Page; brother, Bobby Page of Prince George, Virginia; three step-sisters of Illinois – Inis King (Jerry), Sara Norton (Jerry), Bunny Christian; and step-brother Marvin (Barb) Stewart of Missouri. He is also survived by four nieces, two nephews, and other extended family members and dear friends.

Graveside Service for Benny will be held at 10:00 am on Friday, August 12, 2022 at Dallas Fort Worth National Cemetery, 2000 Mountain Creek Parkway, Dallas, TX 75211.

A Memorial Service will follow at 11:30 am at First United Methodist Church, 122 N Center St., Grand Prairie, TX 75050.

In lieu of flowers the family has requested memorials be made in Benny's name to Westridge Fellowship Church Benevolent Fund, 1700 Hwy 161 North, Grand Prairie, TX 75050.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.beanmasseyburge.com for the Page family.